Rectors Report
December 9th, 2012

I was at the hospital on Wednesday afternoon to administer communion on behalf of a member of our congregation. We will be doing home communions this week. If you, or someone you know, would like to be added to our home communion list please phone the office.

The finance committee met on Wednesday evening as we began preparations for our Parish Budget for the year 2013. We give thanks for the generosity of parishioners. These are demanding times on many parishes within our diocese, times when revenues fall short of meeting expenses. We are not exempt from this dilemma. We pray that with good planning, and your continued support we will continue our witness to Christ in this community, a light shining bright in God's kingdom.

Prior to meeting with the finance committee I met with our parish wardens to prepare for our next Parish Council meeting and to discuss my upcoming sabbatical leave. I give thanks for the leadership of our parish wardens, Rick Orlando & Jean Schwartz..

I was in the office on Thursday morning and was pleased to have a couple of individuals drop in for visits.

I attended the ordination service at  Trinity Church in Fairview on Thursday evening. Rob Elford, who was a student here last year, and David Puxley were ordained priests. Keep them in your prayers as they begin this new phase of ministry in parish life.

I met with Rev. Judie & Rev. Marilyn on Friday morning. We set up schedules for home communions before Christmas, discussed our Christmas services, and services during my Sabbath leave. We are so fortunate here at St. Andrew's to have such a competent core of both ordained and lay leadership.

I  have a number of copies of a book called Telling Your Story which was the work of our Diocesan Planned Giving committee and is available to parishes at a cost of $8.00 per copy.  This book provides valuable information about estate planning, personal care directives and funeral arrangements. 

Sabbath Leave -January, February, 2013 - The Anglican Church through it's Continuing Education Program encourages clergy to take Sabbath Leave. Provision is made for clergy to take 8-12 week blocks of time every five years for rest and study. I will be studying a program of the Episcopal Church called New Dreams, New Visions. This program studies the changing needs of ministry in small congregations to see if, perhaps, part time ministry combined with greater involvement of the laity can  create vibrant and thriving faith communities witnessing and demonstrating Christ's love. Trial projects have been initiated in many dioceses within the Episcopal Church and we in this diocese find ourselves with similar issues. One of the dioceses in the Episcopal Church with pilot projects is the Diocese of Southwest Florida.    

May the anticipation, which is Advent, be the spark that kindles our hearts and minds into action as imitators of Christ, that what we do may be a blessing to God`s holy name.

Rev. Mike